Losing has become the norm again for the Twins. Minnesota followed its 99-loss 2011 debacle with a 96-loss snore of a season that was over in April, when it lost its first four games and 15 of its first 20.

The team’s pitching imploded almost immediately and the season became an audition for young players, some of whom responded. Recent farm products such as Trevor Plouffe (24 homers, second on the team), Ben Revere (.333 OBP, 40 steals) and Chris Parmelee (.755 OPS in his final 26 games) showed signs they could be low-cost contributors. Former Rule 5 draftee Scott Diamond turned out to be the team’s top starter at 12-9, 3.54.

Other than strong seasons by Joe Mauer and free-agent signee Josh Willingham, though, that was about it for the good news in the Twin Cities. The team dropped 90 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in 12 years.

When that happened in 1999-2000, the Twins had the lowest payroll in baseball. This time, they had the highest (2011) and third-highest (2012) payrolls in franchise history, totaling more than $210 million. The losing has taken a hit on attendance at Target Field, which dropped nearly 400,000 to 2.8 million fans in 2011.
Terry Ryan had been brought back as general manager—technically on an interim basis, though that tag was removed in October—in an attempt to right the ship. Farm director Jim Rantz retired following the season, after drawing a paycheck from the organization for 52 years. Five major league coaches were fired or reassigned, and several changes were made in the scouting department. Manager Ron Gardenhire wasn’t given an extension, meaning the 2013 season is the last on his current contract.

Minnesota’s problems start on the mound. Twins starters posted a 5.40 ERA, worst in the American League, and Diamond’s 173 innings led the club by a startling 64 frames. Twelve pitchers made five or more starts, and only Diamond and perhaps Cole DeVries earned spots in the 2013 rotation.

The picture isn’t much prettier on the mound in the minors, where Minnesota has suffered from a succession of injuries and flameouts by top draft picks. Its top pitching prospect, Kyle Gibson, made his way back from Tommy John surgery and could factor into the 2013 big league rotation after a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League.

Low in power arms, the Twins made them a priority in the draft and added several. However, other than supplemental first-rounders J.O. Berrios and Luke Bard, most of them project as relievers.

In the first year of baseball’s new draft system, Minnesota had the largest signing pool for the first 10 rounds at $12.4 million and spent nearly half of that on its top pick, outfielder Byron Buxton. The No. 2 overall selection got the largest bonus in franchise history and in the entire 2012 draft at $6 million and made an immediate impact, helping lead Elizabethton to the Rookie-level Appalachian League title.

Buxton is part of a passel of exciting hitting prospects who give the Twins hope for the future, starting with third baseman Miguel Sano. That group also includes outfielders Oswaldo Arcia and Aaron Hicks and second baseman/outfielder Eddie Rosario.